8 September 2023, Kathmandu
Nepal’s quest to secure a place in the Global Qualifiers for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup came to an end as they suffered a defeat at the hands of Thailand in the semi-finals of the Asia Qualifiers held in Malaysia.
Thailand managed to secure a 46-run victory over Nepal in a crucial match that determined which teams would advance to the Global Qualifiers. This win earned Thailand a spot in the Global Qualifiers.
The Asia Qualifiers had a provision for two teams to qualify for the Global Qualifiers, and with this loss, Nepal’s hopes were dashed.
Nepal had the daunting task of chasing down a target of 106 runs set by Thailand, but they fell short, getting bowled out for just 59 runs in 19.3 overs. Kavita Kunwar was the highest scorer for Nepal with an unbeaten 17 runs, while Kavita Joshi and Apsari Begum contributed 10 runs each. Unfortunately, the rest of Nepal’s batsmen failed to reach double figures.
Thailand’s Onicha and Thipaccha were the stars with the ball, each taking three wickets to put Nepal under immense pressure.
Before Nepal’s innings, they had won the toss and elected to bowl. Thailand, taking the opportunity to set a competitive target, posted 105 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Nannapat was the standout performer for Thailand, scoring an unbeaten 59 runs off 63 balls, which included four boundaries. In the bowling department, Nepal’s Kavita Kunwar and Pooja Mahato managed to take one wicket each.
While Nepal may have missed out on the Global Qualifiers this time, they will be eager to continue improving and aim for future opportunities to showcase their talent on the international stage.
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